FISH CATCHING TRAVEL
“SAVE OUR WATERS”
*******************
The Wade Right Fishing Belt
Brought to you by
Check out their new CFG Madre Sling
*******************
Anticipation on the Southern Belle!
Having traveled to many places in this world to fish there is one lesson that is learned, no matter where you go, it is still fishing. And if the fish do not cooperate, or the weather goes to crap, or both, it does not matter where you are it can be tough, and this trip was. So why do I give this one an A+? Because every time I set foot on the Southern Belle, my third with this bunch, it is a great trip. Capt. Howie and the boys take good care of you and as usual they were fantastic. This was one hell of a trip that had it all in a crazy sort of way.
*******************
The Knockin Tail got a real workout in the Chandeleurs.
*******************
I know you have come to read about the trip but the following short story actually plays a role in my experience this trip. When I left Saturday morning to drive to Lake Charles and spend the night I was having some trouble with my left ear. When I got up Sunday to head to Gulfport and meet the boat I could hear absolutely nothing out of my ear, totally deaf. Hoping it was nothing more than a plug, and not an infection that might be a problem when out on the sea for 4 nights, time to stop at a clinic on the way. And guess what, ear clear, drum fine, no infection, looked great. Good news, none of that, bad news, the appointment with the ENT guy is set for Tuesday. Getting old just keeps on coming, but off to the boat I went.
We all meet up and it is good to see the boys, most with a connection to Wade Right, along with the boat crew. We loaded up and by 9:00 pm we were on anchor at the Chandeleur Islands. So after trading plenty of stories, and a few adult beverages, it was off to bed with high hopes.
Understand that we are talking 12 fishermen, most highly experienced in any salt anywhere, and most having been here several times or more. There were only 2 newbies, but both of them long time fishermen. I had the good fortune to spend my time with Nathan. A serious experienced fisherman, we have actually fished many of the same places here and abroad, so we hit it off immediately. He now concentrates on fly fishing for big fish, and I was anxious to see him do his thing.
********************
The best I could muster, but it sure did pull. Smacked a Controlled Descent White/Limetreuse Paddle Shad. It has caught fish for me on all 3 trips.
(Keep in mind that I am older than dirt and my exact memories on the order of things might leave something to be desired, but I hope to get it all in there. It will also explain why there is a dearth of pictures.)
After filling up on Capt. Howie’s fabulous breakfast it was off to the surf. Suffice to say that we made 3 or 4 trips this time to the surf, and even though conditions were good at times it just did not produce. Of course Billy, the new guy, catches his very first red that goes over 40″. I on the other hand catch one keeper trout and lose a Whopper Plopper on a bull red. Violated my always retie after a lady fish rule. Tim had a few good ones on his stringer, until the tax man came to collect, but was kind enough to leave a head or two. That was the best surf we had this trip. Another trip I caught a spanish but could not get the trout going, a problem the whole trip for all of us beach or bay.
And finishing up the surf results, once it was to ugly and we caught nothing. Another the blue fish were biting us off as fast as we could tie on a new bait. The most interesting that happened on the beach was when 6 of us were lined up and it happened. Not sure how many cow nose rays swam by but all 6 off us were bowed up at once, all a foul hooked ray. So off we went back to the bay.
Nathan with the fishing highlight of the trip.
And let me say this about the wading and drifting, the fish were just not there. And those were places we have all caught them. Drifting, wading, it was just tough. Until the last morning it was never more than 4 keepers on a boat the first day and a half. It seemed the trout just disappeared. On my first 2 trips they even told us to quit bringing redfish in, it is normally that good. But it was slow, end of story. Nathan and I spent a lot of our time chasing reds. He wanted to boat a good one on a fly, and he got it done with a real stud. And I wanted to see him do it as that is on my fishing agenda.
Michael at My Coast Outdoors was kind enough to send along some Knockin’ Tails for the boys and I can report they caught fish with the ice and the pearl being the best. As tough as it was there was just nothing they wanted any more than any other. Topwater accounted for a few, but even then they were not jumping all over it. It really did turn in to a throw the box and hope. There was no color, shape, size, top or bottom that made a real difference. One thing that normally happens with that many of us working together we find the answer, this time it did not help.
It took us the second day to kind of get an idea on the reds when he caught the good one and I added one, then we caught 3 nice ones the last morning. The highlight for me was Nathan catching that good one on a fly. If I learned one thing about fly fishing for reds from Nathan it was go shallow, then go shallower. It is all about the tide. And watching him bowed up got my blood going, so time to get the fly rod out and get to practicing. That morning I almost had a moment of greatness. Time to give the bone One Knocker a go so on one of my first casts it was flat flushed. Big trout? That was dispelled as I watched my One Knocker go sailing by stuck in the face of a 3 1/2 foot black tip.
My first one on the Pumpkinseed Knockin’Tail.
On day 2 we learned a very important lesson, listen to your gut, it often is telling you the truth. We struggled with the wind all 3 days and it was flat tough Tuesday. 4 boats of us were fishing the surf and the wind started to really blow. We talked about staying and waiting it out, but due to an outside factor, which we do not need to go into, we decided to have a go at making it back to the boat. Bad choice. It was ugly, and I only have 2 things to say about that. Kill switch, life jackets. We should not have gone, but ultimately no one got hurt but it could have been a completely different story. The Southern Belle keeps our safety first and they were there when we needed them. So in spite of a bad choice we fished on.
The last day the other 5 boats decided to drift a deep reef, some of it over 5 feet, we went for the redfish. Like many trips it might take a while to figure it out when it is tough, and this was no different. They all caught lots of trout, though most were on the small side they tasted the same to me. Nathan and I headed to try a couple of places in our search for reds. As the tide was up we went to secondary points in deeper coves and drifted over them close to shore looking for fish for later that day. It really helps when you shut off the boat and right off the bat see a huge tailer.
We ended up boating 3 nice reds and I added a keeper trout. The wind seemed to lay down for a few hours every afternoon, and with low tide later, we were actually setting up for the last evening as we finally had a real clue. But alas, all good things must come to an end, and though we found them it was not to be.
When we went in for lunch, a fish fry, the radar was ugly, and I mean scary ugly. Capt. Howie said it was time to hit the road a half day early before it got really bad. When the Captain says go your only response, how quick? But the boats still had to be put on top and as the crew started to wrap it up the wind starter to literally howl. It was so strong that Howie put the boat in gear just to hold the anchor. If finally dropped a little, they got the skiffs loaded, and of we went in with seas a good 5′ and totally sloppy. After a great supper and a nights sleep on the boat it was back to real life.
Sorry this report is so disjointed, and the pictures so sparse, but this trip was something different. But we had some real adventure with the wind, including an experience none of us will ever forget. (There is a story on that but unless you know someone who was there it will have to remain untold.) The fishing was flat tough. Normally between the 12 of us it does not take long to figure it out, this trip, not sure we ever really did. And the wind did its best to mess us up. We just needed one more day…….. What ever had them off their feed they finally bit the last morning. Since we really kind of got off the count it was probably around 50+ keepers, way down from the last trips. But if you go on trips like this with the end result being the big reason you are missing the point. Of course we all want to clobber them, but real fishermen know that shit happens, and this trip it bit us.
But for me there were the good sides, meeting back up with the boys along with making a few new friends. Capt. Howie and the crew doing it up right like usual. The steaks, banana pudding, fish fry, grits, and all the rest were up to restaurant standards. My favorite – Seagull Surprise. That stuff is crack casserole! Being somewhere with no internet or cell phone. Tossing back a few, and I use that term lightly, and then laughing until your gut hurts. Being first up with the crew. Getting motivated to catch redfish a new way. Watching my bone spook in that clear water swim on by. The picture below. It all just makes me want to go back. Nice to be with folks who take it in stride, a good time was had by all. Next year we will kill them!
I never get tired of the sunrises from the boat.
So that is the size of it. I am still recovering, nothing a little ibuprofen will not cure, but if you see me speak to my right ear. Everything was wet so it all got cleaned and dried, and getting things back in order will be the last thing left to do. Then the reels definitely need a little extra care and cleaning with new line before heading back to the bay. Now it is back to real life. I will leave this weekend to folks and then it will be back on the water. I will be closely watching future tides looking for that dead low day when I will make the first redfish on a fly attempt. And last thanks to the Southern Belle for putting up with us. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
********************
